A row has broken out over the rising cost of interpreters in Britain’s benefits system after far-right anti-Muslim activist Tommy Robinson accused the government of wasting millions of pounds of public money on people who “don’t speak English”.In a post on X, Robinson criticized the use of taxpayer funds to hire interpreters for immigrants and argued for deportation: “If they can’t speak English, they shouldn’t be here anyway. Absolutely not. Deport.”His comments came in the wake of a new report calling for immigrants to be banned from using free translation services when applying for benefits. The study was published by the think tank Policy Exchange, according to the Daily Mail. They argue that the ability to speak English should be a basic or minimum requirement for accessing the welfare system.
The report says the government should stop providing free interpretation in most civil cases after benefit claims soar. The report describes welfare systems as part of a “social contract” with society and people, adding that “the ability to communicate in the national language is also part of this.”Spending on translation services in civil litigation has increased by 80% in the three years since the coronavirus pandemic, reaching £12.8m last year, according to official figures cited in the study. Claimants are now entitled to free translations to help them appeal decisions denying them benefits such as Personal Independence Allowance and Employment and Maintenance Allowance.
Does the claimant have to pay for his or her translator?
The report also states that in the future, plaintiffs who do not speak English should be expected to pay for their own interpreters. The report recommends that free translation should only exist in criminal cases involving deaf people and “where liberty and liberty are at stake.”The proposal aims to rein in the growing welfare bill and reduce the influence of courts over benefit regulations. The report argues that courts have gradually expanded the rules on who is eligible for benefits, driving up overall costs. The report says that parliament has been unable to assert leadership because of its reluctance to overturn judges’ decisions.Spending on sickness and disability benefits alone is predicted to exceed £100 billion by the end of 2020. More than 300,000 young people are now receiving sick pay, which does not require them to look for work, double the number five years ago.Courts hear thousands of benefit appeals each year, and research has found that the vast majority are successful, with some courts overturning up to 75 per cent of decisions.The report estimates that £750 million a year could be saved by tightening the rules around mental health claims related to travel difficulties.
Tommy Robinsons at immigration
Tommy Robinson is known for his strong opposition to immigration, especially from Muslim-majority countries. He argues that large-scale immigration undermines Britain’s identity, security and social cohesion. In September, Robinson led a massive anti-immigration rally in London attended by tens of thousands of supporters that at times turned violent.
